"Cassie
Shine is making her mark with her debut novel Harp's Song. It is both
gripping and emotional. Harp's Song tackles some tough topics like
abuse, neglect, and intimidation. Her storytelling is engaging and kept
me turning page after page until the very end."

Check out the book and excerpt below, and then be sure to enter the giveaway via the Rafflecopter.

Single-minded to the point of near seclusion, Harp Evans’ only goal was to move away from her abusive mother, and start a new life at college. Now a freshman at a prestigious university, Harp continues to struggle letting people in, including her ex-boyfriend—Connor Williams—who has always stood by her, especially after her mother exposed a devastating secret about Harp’s origin. While Harp figures out how to navigate her relationships, especially with her mom, Anne, she will have to exorcize her own demons and face challenges with uncompromising courage, including reuniting her broken family—the family that was shattered by the acts of one man. After almost twenty years, is it possible for people to change their minds and open their hearts? More importantly, is Harp strong enough to pull them all back together?

Prologue - HARP'S VOICE

(Anne Evans - Past)

Today Harp received her high school diploma. Happiness, sadness, guilt and hope were ping ponging through me as her name was called and she walked across the stage.

It was hard not to let the sadness and guilt override the happiness and hope, but that has been a constant struggle since I confronted her. The day I arrived at her District solo performance, there was a big chance she wouldn’t listen to me. It was risky, a big step; one my therapist urged me to take.

I knew she was right—it was time to make amends. I had finally purged all the details of my sexual assault—after seventeen years—and admitted that Harp was the product of that offense.
Even though I had suffered with the burden of that secret, and the memories of that night—that man—Harp had suffered far worse.
She was innocent; a beautiful, fresh, clean soul who didn’t get the love-the mother-she deserved, because I was blinded by hate … and for that, I will always feel guilty.
The human spirit is an inexplicable thing. There are people, like me, people that get knocked down and can’t get up. People that wallow in the pain that put them there, they let it fester and pull them further and further into oblivion. Then there are those who get pummeled, yet rise and repeat the process over and over again. That’s my daughter.
Even as a child, she never let me ruin her. Years of neglect, verbal and physical abuse would push her to the floor, but the next day she would rise, as if she were surrounded by angels—their love cocooning her and making her stronger.
Since the day I told her that the man who raped me was her father, and now, also my brother-in-law, I watched her struggle. It was as if we were in the third round of a boxing match, with only twenty seconds left and that was the last blow … but it wasn’t.
It was, however, the one that left her on her knees and vulnerable with her arms tangled in the ropes.
She wasn’t knocked out, but she couldn’t get back up, instead she was in limbo. Ditching her friends, her support system, and leaning on people who used her.
Dropping the news of my breast cancer was the last blow though. It was the one that sent her to the mat … she was done and shrouded herself in misery and doubt.
When she ended up in the hospital after being struck in a bar fight, I sat by her bed and prayed with more conviction than I’d ever had before. Then, I shamelessly and selfishly begged. I begged those angels—who I was convinced had taken a sabbatical—to come back and protect my daughter-to guide her, to enlighten her.
As I watched her accept her diploma of freedom, I knew those angels had heard me because she was glowing. She was happy from the inside out.
We’ve confessed our wrongs to each other (mainly mine) and we will continue to purge our feelings. It will be a bumpy road, but it’s the only way we can begin to forgive, and ultimately heal.

About Cassie Shine

Cassie Shine released her debut young adult novel, Harp's Song in November 2013, finally finishing the short story she started in her college creative writing class … many, many moons ago. She has always been an avid reader and lover of music (yes, she was in the high school marching band). While she has a weak spot for all things teeny bopper, especially boy bands, she also loves classical, country, rock and well, pretty much everything. After living in St. Louis for more than ten years, she and her husband packed up a U-Haul and headed west. They currently live in Orange County, CA with their furry kids Finnegan and Molly.

1 comment:

Wowo...I have not read this series, and this is the first I have heard of it (through no fault of publishing or author, I don't get to the book store much) and this sounds riveting and heartbreaking. With the way the world is today, there are probably many teens/YA who could relate or learn from this book. I bet this is an excellent read.